MORNING REPORT

Art

January 30, 1989|ALEENE MacMINN | Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press

And speaking of the market for Dali art: A federal grand jury indicted a Honolulu-based chain of art galleries and its two top officials on fraud charges, claiming the gallery sold fake Salvador Dali artworks during the past 12 years. The indictment last week charged Center Art Galleries-Hawaii owner William Mett, 46, of Kailua, and vice president Marvin Wiseman, 44, of Waikiki, with 93 counts of mail, wire and securities fraud in Dali sales to 36 customers. Assistant U.S. Attorney Les Osborne said Mett and Wiseman have agreed to surrender at their arraignment, probably this week. In a written statement Thursday, Mett said he was innocent.